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Sigma's CEO wants you to focus on the dp2 Quattro's new sensor, not its peculiar design
This was a bit of a shocker to us as well: Kazuto Yamaki, Sigma's chief executive and lead design guru, doesn't want you to be distracted by the dp Quattro's strange shape. The extra-wide footprint is of course what first turned us on to this high-end camera, but the takeaway here should be the shooter's 29-megapixel Foveon X3 CMOS direct image sensor, which Yamaki says enables a reduced file size and better high-ISO performance. That refreshed chip operates similarly to traditional color film, using multiple layers to capture enhanced detail. That, along with a new processor, should produce sharper, more realistic images with vibrant colors -- something Sigma describes as "full-bodied image quality." Without an opportunity to review full-resolution samples, we can't really speak to the dp Quattro's performance, but there's no question that company reps are very excited about this new device. The unusual design is what captured our attention, and judging by the long queue at Sigma's CP+ booth in Yokohama, Japan today, consumers are quite curious as well. Our first thought was that the company widened the body to accommodate a larger display, but the 920k-dot, 3-inch LCD is shockingly ordinary. The model seen here is the dp2, which features a fixed 28mm f/2.8 lens, but Sigma is also releasing the dp1, which includes a 45mm f/2.8 optic and the dp3, which sports a 75mm equivalent lens (yes, you'll need three cameras to take advantage of all three focal lengths). Since there's a lot of real estate to work with, the buttons and control dials have plenty of room to stretch out -- it literally couldn't feel less cramped, so if you're often accidentally tapping more than one button, you'll love what Sigma's done here. There's also a hot shoe, and once you attach a full-size flash, the dp may feel better balanced.
Spiritual Guidance: The Mists of Pandaria and the fate of DoTs
Every week, WoW Insider brings you Spiritual Guidance for discipline, holy and shadow priests. On Wednesdays, shadow priesting expert Fox Van Allen comes from out of the shadows to bask in your loving adoration. Last week, we took a somewhat in-depth look at the latest incarnation of the Mists of Pandaria talent calculator. Part of the conversation was about shadow priest staple Mind Blast, but it was Devouring Plague that got you all really talking -- more specifically, the fact that Devouring Plague doesn't appear to be in the current MoP shadow build. Is Devouring Plague really gone for good? The question is serious enough that it deserves a detailed look at the evidence. Tremble, ye priests -- things do not look good.
Aion Myth Breakers examines crafting DP and manastones
After failing to proc master crafting and miragent armor recipes on multiple occasions, Aion players naturally gravitate towards superstition, luck, and the equivalent of in-game urban legends in order to deal with the nightmare that is high-level crafting in the world of Atreia. One of those legends concerns the supposed effects of a full Divine Power (DP) bar on crafting success. This particular myth is thoroughly debunked in the second installment of Victor Shugo's Aion Lab: Myth Breakers, an ongoing series that provides statistical data regarding some of Aion's mechanics. In addition to laying the crafting DP myth to rest, this edition examines the loot drop rates for Draupnir Cave and Commander Bakarma and also provides a success rate table for level 50 and 60 manastones. So the next time you shake a fist at the Seraphim lords over a failed socketing attempt, rest assured that statistically speaking, you're bound to do better next time.
Leica reveals Pradovit D-1200 DLP HD projector
Whoa, Leica -- what got into you of late? Introducing three new cameras at once just not good enough? Evidently not, as the outfit better known for its retro-styled snappers has just produced an all new high-def projector, the 7.5-pound Pradovit D-1200. Taking a hint from projectiondesign's, um, design cues, this DLP beamer boasts a native 1,920 x 1,200 resolution, 1,400 ANSI lumens, a 2,500:1 contrast ratio and a VARIO-ELMARIT-P f/2.8-3.1/33-42 mm high-speed lens. You'll also find a 220-watt FusionPlus VIDI UHP lamp from Philips which is said to be good for around 3,000 hours, and as for ports, there's component, HDMI 1.3, DVI, composite, S-Video, VGA and Ethernet jacks. Mum's the word on a price, but it'll be available for those with thick wallets this November.[Via LetsGoDigital]
